Dhoni pulls Indians to safety

It was another day of batting practice at the Iqbal Stadium, as the second Test between Pakistan and India, blighted by a pitch that gave no help to the bowlers, headed for a draw. One may as well have used bowling machines.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 148, regardless of the conditions, would surely rate as one of the best maiden centuries in the game. He and Irfan Pathan rescued India from 281 for five on the third day with a stand they extended to 210.

Dhoni was particularly harsh on Shoaib Akhtar, whose third over of the day went for 18 runs. Both captains had been warned against sledging the previous night by Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee, and a sulky Shoaib, unable to unleash expletives, directed a beamer at Dhoni that duly brought a caution from the umpire.

Dhoni was out for 148 soon after, stumped off Danish Kaneria trying to hit the ball to Karachi. Pathan was lbw to Abdul Razzaq for 90, the third time in the last four innings that he has passed 80 but failed to get to three figures. Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan all contributed useful cameos, allowing India to take a first-innings lead.

Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal began Pakistan's second innings with a flurry of boundaries, which continued after Butt's dismissal for 24, as Akmal finished the day on 59 not out, with Younis Khan on 64 not out. Scoring runs had rarely been so easy, and no doubt Pakistan's batsmen would enjoy the last day of this Test.